One of the anti-Israel protesters arrested on Tuesday at the University of South Florida in Tampa has been identified by police as a 39-year-old man who is also charged with carrying a firearm on school property as authorities allegedly found a gun in his waistband at the demonstration.
Atah Othman, 39, was one of 10 protesters charged for their part in the South Florida anti-Israel protest that police shut down on Tuesday. Along with the felony charge of possession of a firearm on school property, Othman was also hit with charges of trespassing, unlawful assembly, and resisting an officer without violence, Fox 13 reported. Among the other demonstrators who were arrested were 32-year-old Daniel Powell and 27-year-old Cameron Pressey.
Two other protesters were also hit with felonies, including Emmanuel Atmosfera, 25, who was charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony with a weapon. Leonardo Tilelli, 23, was charged with two felonies: battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence, according to Fox 13.
PICTURED: 10 protesters identified after being arrested during protest at the University of South Florida pic.twitter.com/lqbIEXbOCJ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 1, 2024
The Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized the anti-Israel protest, which attracted between 75-100 protesters — some of whom were not students. The university gave the group until 5 p.m. on Tuesday to clear their encampment off school property. When police moved in to clear the protesters out, they said some demonstrators lined up holding umbrellas and wooden shields, NBC 6 reported.
Police then reportedly used tear gas to disperse the anti-Israel protesters before arresting 10 of them. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said on Tuesday, “After repeatedly ignoring several dispersal commands while assisting the University of South Florida Police Department with an unsanctioned protest, #teamHCSO used tactical skills to evacuate agitators.”
After repeatedly ignoring several dispersal commands while assisting the University of South Florida Police Department with an unsanctioned protest, #teamHCSO used tactical skills to evacuate agitators. pic.twitter.com/C0o9x33DB3
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) May 1, 2024
Across the state, the University of Florida shut down an anti-Israel protest earlier this week and reportedly arrested nine demonstrators.
“This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children — they knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they’ll face the consequences,” the university said.
Anti-Israel protests have popped up at universities across the nation, including at UCLA and Columbia, where agitators have become more aggressive. On Tuesday, a group of protesters took over Hamilton Hall at Columbia for hours before NYPD officers stormed the building and arrested dozens of people.
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In a Wednesday press conference, New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams said the Columbia protest was being co-opted by people who appeared to be trained.
“There were individuals on the campus who should not have been there. They were people who are professionals and we saw evidence of training,” Adams said. “I know that there are those who are attempting to say, ‘Well, the majority of people may have been students.’ You don’t have to be the majority to influence and co-op an operation. That is what this is about.”